Dr. Duane Kendall Hale, Ph.D.

Dr. Duane Kendall Hale, PhD, 82, of Cisco passed away on July 27th, 2025.

He was born August 4, 1942 in Abilene to Albert Dealon Hale and Oleta Dunaway Hale of Cisco. He was an exceptional student-athlete at Cisco High School, maintained a four point GPA and was named all-district in three sports, graduating in 1960.

Dr. Hale played football for Abilene Christian College 1960-1964, earned a B.S. in math and education, and then a M.A. degree in history in 1972. Oklahoma State University awarded him a PhD in 1977. His major field of study was the American Indian and American Western History.

Dr. Hale served as consultant, researcher and writer for the University Of Oklahoma’s American Indian Institute from 1982-2007. He headed 36 tribal history workshops in the U.S. and Canada, working with over 500 Indian tribes as an instructor in research and writing techniques for the preservation of tribal histories. He returned to Cisco in 1993 and taught history at Cisco Junior College until his retirement in 2022.

He was a prolific writer and influential public speaker, publishing numerous books, articles and papers concerning Texas, Native American and regional history. He was director of the Lela Latch Loyd Museum in Cisco, a member of the Cisco Writer’s Club and president of the Dothan Cemetery Association. He was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. He was a close friend and inspiration to many as well as a loved father and family member.

A brief visitation will be held Monday, August 4, 2025 at 9:30am at Kimbrough-Jacobs Funeral Home in Cisco, followed by interment at Dothan Cemetery. Following interment, a memorial honoring Dr. Hale's life will be held at 12:00 pm at Cisco Church Of Christ.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Duane’s honor to the Native American Rights Fund, First Nations Development Institute or the Dothan Cemetery Association. Donations can be made at the addresses listed below.

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